The Interior of Loveland Chapel under Construction at Springfield College

In 1946, Norman and Ruth Loveland established a fund for the construction of a chapel at Springfield College in order to help maintain the spiritual character of the College. Mr. Loveland was a 1924 graduate of the College and had served as a member of the Board of Trustees. From 1946 till their deaths, Mr. Loveland in 1965 and Mrs. Loveland in1968, a sum of $275,000 beqeust was made to the “chapel” fund. Under the leadership of President Wilbert E. Locklin, it was decided that the chapel should be built on the East Campus. Groundbreaking took place on September 15, 1980 and the chapel was completed in June of 1981. The Dedication was actually held on May 30, 1981. A number of features in the chapel were donated, including the Allen Organ, donated by W. Haines Kent and a couple of stained glass windows, including one in memory of Norman and Ruth Loveland, by Mrs. Vera Brown, and one depicting the Springfield College triangle, by Philip W. Breux, Class of 1938. The gates at the entrances are actually the original Pratt Field Gates. The building was visualized as “an academic chapel” or non-denominational chapel. Built of wood and stone, the 5,000 sq. ft. structure blends into the woodland setting and utilizes natural materials that incorporate environmental awareness in terms of energy efficiency. Its open floor nave could accommodate 150 people. In 1988, under the leadership of President Frank Falcone, Loveland Chapel became the Child Development Center which remains its use to this day.

This is a photograph of the interior of Loveland Chapel under construction at the East Campus of Springfield College. In the photograph, you can see the wood ceiling and the stone and glass of one of the end walls. There are steel pillars pilled on the left in the photograph.